Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan had earned a surprise gig in PSL 2025 after being ignored earlier, following a record-breaking run of form.
Primarily an opener, Farhan has been drafted into the Islamabad United squad for PSL 2025, as a reward for his record-breaking display in the National T20 Cup. The 29-year-old finished as the top run-getter for the fourth time in the competition's history, smashing 605 runs at 121, including three centuries, a fifty, and a strike-rate of 190.
Also read: The curious case of Sahibzada Farhan, a National T20 Cup record-breaker without a PSL contract
Notably, Farhan wasn't picked in the Pakistan Super League draft, but United gave him a belated call-up in the supplementary category, hours after the National T20 Cup final where Farhan had a rare failure, finishing on a 16-ball 17.
Farhan, who has nine T20I caps across seven years, has played in the PSL before, but doesn't boast a great record: he did start his journey with United, playing his first two seasons with the three-time champions.
He represented them in 2017/18 and 2018/19, averaging 22.75 and 16.33, at strike-rates of 116.66 and 90.74.
Speaking after his call-up, Farhan looked forward to contributing to his first PSL team: “Islamabad United gave me my breakthrough in the PSL, and I’ll always be grateful for that," he was quoted as saying. "I’m a team player — I’ll be ready to contribute on the field whenever asked, and off the field, I’ll do everything I can to support the squad.”
Mike Hesson, IU's head coach said: “We’re always looking to build bench strength with players who are match-ready. Sahibzada’s domestic form and experience make him someone who can slot into the XI whenever required and deliver.”
Farhan will add to a United batting lineup that already consists of Colin Munro, Rassie van der Dussen, Azam Khan, Matt Short and Salman Agha, among others.
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